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Moeneeb: If Tito is a professional he should think…

All eyes will be on Orlando Pirates head coach Jose Riveiro on how he handles the Patrick Maswanganyi situation when he returns to the squad and former goalkeeper Moeneeb Josephs has the solution.

Maswanganyi has been a go-to guy for the Buccaneers from last season, where he was crowned DStv Premiership Players' Player of the Season, Midfielder of the Season and Nedbank Cup Player of the Tournament.

Tito, however, is yet to score or assist in the domestic season, almost half-way into the current campaign and Ezimnyama showed that they can perform even better without the 26-year-old and former Players' Player of the season, Monnapule Saleng. 

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The Stars of Africa academy product has hogged the headlines with his mysterious absence from Pirates' matchday squads and after The Ghost hammered Marumo Gallants 8-1, in a game he was suspended due to yellow cards, Josephs believes when Maswanganyi returns, he should start from the bench, as Dlamini has raised his hand in his position. 

"For Pirates, this is amazing when a guy like Dlamini lifts his hand and say, 'Listen I can take that role coach' and what is great is the coach also showed no fear. We're not dependent on one player," Josephs said on SoccerBeat YouTube Channel

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"You know what puts us in good stead now? That we have depth in our squad. If you look at it in a positive way, we look at it say, 'Geez, we still have Tito on the bench' and if Tito is professional enough, he would think to himself: 'Okay, I need to push now!'

"Because Dlamini all of a sudden he has lifted himself and he's thinking to himself 'that should be my place'. I don't know why he was not in the squad but if he's a professional, he should think 'I need to push myself' because Dlamini completely dominated that game (against Gallants). I don't care about the opponents, you still have to go out and play, you still have to perform. Whatever Tito is going through, I'm sure he can work on it now but when he comes back, he knows that 'I need to fight for my place'," Josephs suggested.

Maswanganyi last featured for Pirates in a 1-0 defeat to Stellenbosch at the beginning of December.

Riveiro's charges will end their year away to Magesi on Sunday afternoon at the Old Peter Mokaba Stadium. 

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